Owner fights to get Ikea monkey back

The owner of a stylishly attired monkey - which became an instant internet celebrity and was seized by authorities after it was found wandering in an Ikea car park - has gone to court to get it back.

Canadian media said Yasmin Nakhuda's lawyer told an Ontario Superior Court judge she is willing to move out of Toronto, which prohibits owning exotic pets, in order to regain custody of the animal named Darwin.

Nakhuda reportedly broke down in tears in court as her lawyer described how zoologists, journalists and others have been permitted to see the monkey during the past two weeks, while she has been prevented from visiting Darwin at an animal sanctuary.